His Highness the Aga Khan, recipient of the 2013 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal, with 2010 Gold Medal recipient George Baird (left) and RAIC President Paul Frank (right). AKDN/Farhez RayaniTheAgaKhan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims and philanthropist, has passed away on February 4, 2025, at the age of 88.His Highness became the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mohamed Shah Aga Khan. He was also the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), whose agencies work to improve the welfare and prospects of people in the developing world.HisAgaKhanDevelopment Network and the Ismaili religious community announced that His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, theAgaKhan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, passed away surrounded by his family in Lisbon, Portugal.On February 5, 2025, his son Rahim was named theAgaKhan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, which was in accordance with his fathers will.In 2013, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) awarded His Highness the Aga Khan its highest honourthe RAIC Gold Medal. The selection of His Highness marked the first time in more than 30 years that a non-architect had been chosen to receive the Gold Medal, and recognized the Aga Khans extraordinary achievements in using architecture as an instrument to further peaceful and sustainable community development around the world.In recognizing His Highness, the RAIC took note of his remarkable accomplishments in various aspects of the field of architecture as part of his broader social and economic development work through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). This included the specialized cultural programming undertaken through the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the restoration of many heritage sites throughout the Muslim world by the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme, and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.There has been a strong link between the Shia Ismaili Muslims led by His Highness the Aga Khan and this country, a true convergence of pluralist values and respect for the diversity of culture, wrote Canadian architecture critic Trevor Boddy, citing a series of projects completed under His Highnesss patronage, including the Ismaili Centre in Vancouver (Bruno Freschi, 1983), the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa (Maki & Associates with Moriyama Teshima Architects), the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto (Maki & Associates with Moriyama Teshima Architects), and the Ismaili Centre in Toronto (Charles Correa with Moriyama Teshima Architects). The Aga Khan Garden (Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects) and The Diwan (AXIA Design Associates, Arriz + Co., and Kasian Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning) have since opened in Devon, Alberta.I think it is right to begin by clarifying that my definition of architecture goes beyond a concern for buildings designed by architects, said the Aga Khan. I see architecture as embracing practically all aspects of our entire built environment. People everywhereindependent of their particular background or educational levelalmost instinctively understand the importance of place, and how the spaces of our lives are shaped and reshapedfor better or for worse. This universal sensitivity to changes in the built environment also helps explain the profound impact of architecture on the way we think about our lives. Few other forces, in my view, have such transformational potential.He was granted honorary Canadian citizenship in 2009.The late Aga Khans burial is set to be held in the upcoming days, which will be followed by an homage ceremony.With Files from The Canadian PressThe post In Memoriam: HH The Aga Khan appeared first on Canadian Architect.